Dental film pack holder



Sept. 17, 1935. D. A. MaCEACHERN' zmww v DENTAL FILM PACK HOLDER I Filed April 10, 1954 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My present invention relates to improvements in dental film pack holders for use in interproximal X-ray examinations of the teeth, so that X-ray film packs may accurately be located and then retained in the mouth of the patient while the film is being exposed to the X-ray. The holder is especially designed for use with the pack when apical-proximal and inter-proximal examinations of all upper and lower teeth are being made, to determine conditions existing in the teeth themselves as well as to determine the conditions existing in or about the jaw bones.

In the process of X-ray examinations it is imperative, if successful and effective negatives are to be obtained, that the film pack be retained and maintained in the exact position as located by the X-ray operator. By the use of the device of my invention the operator is enabled to locate the film in the proper position, and then the patient, by gripping the bite-fins, which are located at right angles to the plane of the pack, has little difficulty in maintaining the film in the proper position while the exposure is being made. In

some instances the angularity of the pack and its attachment may be varied for special purposes.

The device of my invention is extremely simple in construction, may be manufactured at low cost of production from metal or other suitable material, and the device may be manipulated with facility by the operator, and readily adapted for use by the patient.

In the drawing which is contained in an application heretofore made, bearing Serial No. 450,205, filed May 6, 1930, and by this reference made a part hereof, I have shown several modes for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the holders, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the holder is fashioned. Figure 3 is an edge view of a film pack retained in the holder, and ready for use. Figure 4 is an edge view of a film pack retained in a modified form of the holder having one bite-fin, and Figure 5 is a plan view of this holder with the pack shown in dotted lines. Figure 6 is an enlarged view at the left end of Figure 4. Figure '7 is an enlarged view at the left end of Figure 3 showing a filler or bite-piece on the bite-fin. Figure 8 is a view of the device of Figure 4 with the addition of another and separate bite-fin that may be used.

In the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 7 I utilize a blade I of suitable material, as malleable sheet metal, fashioned of suitable size and shape, and with rounded ends 2, from which blank the holder is formed. In forming the holder the blank is fashioned with extensions 3 of reduced width at its opposite ends, and these fins are bent around at right angles to the blade, and also twisted into a plane that is 5 disposed at right angles to the plane of the blade. As before stated, the blanks are formed of any suitable material, and when fashioned from malleable metal, the blank is stamped by the use of suitable tools or machines, and the bite-fins are 10 twisted in similar manner.

These centrally projecting fins are narrower than the width of the blank, and as the fins are twisted, they form at their junctions with the blade, oppositely curved shoulders 4 and 5.

The film pack 6, as indicated in Figure 3 is adapted to be inserted within or under the shoulders and lie in close contact with the blade, the friction-engagement of the curved shoulders with opposite edges of the film pack being sufiicient to hold the pack in place in the holder.

In use the film pack is located at the inner side of the teeth within the mouth, and the two-bite fins are clamped between the upper and lower teeth which bite on the bite-fins.

, The film packs are made in standard sizes and shapes, and consequently the holders are fashioned in complementary sizes, so that the operator may be prepared with appropriate packs and holders therefor to meet demands. While I have referred to the holder as fashioned from malleable metal, it will be understood that paper, cardboard, celluloid, hardened plastics and similar materials may be utilized and preferably the material possesses resiliency in order that the shoulders 4 and 5 may engage the pack with the required friction to hold the pack in place.

In Figures 4, 5, 6 and 8, the holder is fashioned with a blade 1 that is slotted near one end, as at 8 in order that the blade may be curled inwardly to form clasping flanges 9 and Ill. At the opposite end of the blade a bite fin l I is cut out from the blade and twisted, and at the sides of the fin, the metal is curled inwardly to form clasping flanges l2 and i3. The film pack is inserted within these pairs of clasping flanges and retained by friction in the holder, and the single bite fin II is sufficient in some instances for retaining the holder and pack in the mouth.

In Figure 8 an additional bite-wing I4 is shown as fashioned with a tongue-fin l5, and slipped on the pack 6 for use with the single bite-fin, II.

In Figure 7, a bite-filler I6 is illustrated on the bite-fin, and this filler, which may be of cork, rubber, or other sanitary material is slipped over the fin for use by the patient when teeth are missing. The filler may be gripped between the two jaws when both the upper and lower teeth are missing, or the filler may be gripped between two spaced teeth in one jaw and a single tooth of the other jaw, or the filler may be utilized under various other conditions, as will be apparent.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An integral holder for a dental film pack comprising a flat blade, a pair of flat, parallel extensions disposed in a plane between the upper and lower edges of the blade and projecting at right angles from the ends of the blade to form bitefins, and said holder having twisted junctions between the blade and the'bite-fins forming the sole retaining means for the film pack.

DAVID A. MACEACHERN. 

